United States beats Czech Republic; Canada awaits

FINAL: U.S. 5, Czech Republic 2

The United States continues its remarkable consistency in these Olympics.

The Americans have been far from perfect. But gritty defensive play coupled with a quick-strike offense has proven a winning formula for this tournament.

Five different players scored for the Americans. Ryan Suter had three assists. Ryan Kesler had two.

A total team effort. As it has been through four wins in four games in Sochi.

3rd Period

A veteran Czech team simply had nothing left to give in this third period. They pressured early, and Ales Hemsky’s individual effort led to a goal in the middle of the period.

But ultimately, the U.S. just waltzed through.

***

Canada has finally broken through, with Shea Webber scoring with less than seven minutes left to take a 2-1 lead over Latvia.

The Canadians and Americans — who played for gold in Vancouver — appear headed toward a semifinal matchup in Sochi.

United State 5, Czech Republic 2

Scratch the note below about making smart plays.

Paul Statsny fails to get the puck deep, turning it over at the blue line and giving Ales Hemsky a chance to attack for the Czeck Republic. He criss-crossed with another player, and U.S. defender John Carlson did not step up in time.

Hemsky, of the Edmonton Oilers, fired a shot over Jonathan Quick’s shoulder.

***

United States continues keeping it simple, always making the smart play in the face of relentless play from the Czechs.

One of the unique faces of Olympics play is that a team can dress 20 skaters, which is two more than allowed in the NHL. That leaves extra players who generally don’t take a regular shift.

But with this big lead, the United States has been able to use Blake Wheeler late here, and his fresh legs have made a difference.

After withstanding a scrum in front of their own net, the United States calms down and scores in transition.

Ryan Kesler slipped a perfect pass to a streaking Phil Kessel.

How perfect?

Kessel essentially had to tip it in from the crease. What a precise pass.

That was Kessel’s fifth of the tournament, tying him for the most so far.

And it probably put this game out of reach.

Kevin Allen: Kessel now has 15 goals in his past 17 games, counting his last 12 NHL games.

2nd Period

The U.S. will head into the final period with a 4-1 lead after another strong period.

Kevin Allen: The Americans are putting the clamps down defensively, and playing a conservative style, knowing that a three-goal should be enough against the tired Czechs. But they aren’t totally throttling down, like when Brooks Orpik rubbed out Jaromir Jagr and was called for a penalty. To be successful, these Americans have to play on the edge. The team’s identity is to be prickly to play against. You don’t want to lose that edge by going through the motions, especially with the semifinals looming.

Canada, meanwhile, remains deadlocked with Latvia after two. It’s 1-1. But Canada has a 35-12 advantage in shots.

Goal of this tournament is to get better with every game. The U.S. is doing that and then some. Canada is not. Let's see what third brings

Whoever has handled the coaching on Team USA’s faceoffs deserves a lot of credit. The Americans are winning important draws regularly, and creating strong offensive chances with quick movement. Very impressive.

***

Czech power play lasts only a few seconds. Jakub Voracek of the Philadelphia Flyers is whistled for tripping T.J. Oshie, the hero of Team USA’s dramatic shootout victory over Russia.

***

There’s been a lot of David Backes in this live blog. With good reason.

The St. Louis Blues forward has been a tank. He fought through two checks, got thrown to the ice, hopped up, flew to the net and forced Czech goal Alexander Salak to make a pair of tough saves.

But at the other end, Brooks Orpik takes a penalty by interfering with Jaromir Jagr.

And you wonder: Has ever player in the history of the game drawn more of those penalties than the ever-dangerous Jagr?

***

The Czech’s are doing everything possible to get Jaromir Jagr’s line away from the David-Backes-Zach Parise-Patrick Kane line.

Backes is too much for Jagr to handle. Too physical. And Kane is too fast. He’s been a one-man breakout on several occasions, and he continually backs the Czech defense down and creates open ice for his teammates.

United States 4, Czech Republic 1

Another American who has had a slow start to these Olympics, captain Zach Parise, muscles through to pounce on a loose puck — it had bounced off the boards, of course — and slip it through Czech goaltender Ondrej Pavelec’s five hole for his first goal of the tournament.

It should have been saved, as Pavelec had time to square to where the puck would be. He didn’t. And he’s out of the game. Enter Alexander Salak, who plays in Russia’s KHL after failing to stick with the Florida Panthers and Chicago Blackhawks.

Mike Brehm, USA TODAY Sports: 4-1 USA. Zach Parise goes five hole on a rebound. Ondrej Pavelec didn’t get over there fast enough. Czech coach has seen enough. Alexander Salak is now in net.

***

Team USA about to go to the power play.

And in case didn’t like David Backes already, he’s saving the dogs of Sochi.

***

David Backes continues being the catalyst for the United States. He’s doing everything, and has had several scoring chances in the early going of the second period. He’s got two points already and is energized.

1st Period

The U.S. has scored on a shot that should have been stopped, a pass that shouldn’t have made it through the middle and a ricochet of the boards that took the luckiest of bounces.

And the Americans should be thrilled.

The Czech Republic has been dangerous in spurts, but disorganized. That’s the sign of tired legs.

USA TODAY Sports’ Kevin Allen: The Americans have a comfortable 3-1 lead against a tired Czech team after one period. The Czechs played a skating game to defeat Slovakia Tuesday night and their legs look heavy tonight. The Americans have a lot of energy. Patrick Kane and Phil Kessel are flying about. David Backes is USA’s best player. He set up Dustin Brown’s goal and he scored one himself with a whirl-around move from a bad angle. Czech goalie Ondrej Pavelec isn’t having his best night.

In other hockey action, the Canadians and Latvians are tied at 1. The winner faces the United States in the semifinals.

United States 3, Czech Republic 1

David Backes scores at the end of the first period. (Martin Rose, Getty Images)

You’ve heard about the lively boards in Russia, right? The pucks bounce fiercely back into play after the miss the net.

And that can be a huge advantage.

David Backes gave the U.S. a two-goal lead with 1.9 seconds to go in the first period by one-timing a deflection off the boards.

Ryan Suter wasn’t trying to miss from the point, but his shot deflected to the right of the net. Then to Backes, who quickly lifted it into the net.

United States 2, Czech Republic 1

David Backes has been a force in these Olympics. He is hitting everyone.

Here, his superb defensive play — plastering Jaromir Jagr to the boards and stealing the puck — leads to a beautiful offensive play.

Backes fed an unbelievable pass through traffic to a wide open Dustin Brown, who fired the puck into an open net.

Brown has not been good in these Olympics. Building his confidence is important.

***

Of course the United States’ top line would provide the pushback it needs. Phil Kessel, James Van Riemsdyk and Joe Pavelski create a couple of chances, and JVR can’t bury a chance alone in front.

The line’s execution off the faceoff also led to a Cam Fowler shot that hit off the post.

***

The Czech Republic is not tired.

The Czech Republic is flying.

Including their two 42-year-olds.

Petr Nedved, a controversial pick for the team who hasn’t played in the NHL since 2007, hit the crossbar with a shot.

Jaromir Jagr is, as usual, possessing the puck with ease.

Czech Republic 1, United States 1

Taking advantage of a poorly executed line change, the Czech Republic collapses on the net and U.S. goaltender Jonathan Quick.

U.S. defender Ryan McDonagh tries to clear a loose puck, only to fling it against teammate Ryan Suter’s skate — and into the net.

Patrick Kane started this play by flying through the neutral zone and getting the puck deep.

Ryan Kesler and Patrick Kane kept it going with the sort of forecheck that will wear down an already worn-down Czech Republic team.

And James van Riemsdyk — finally playing to his potential consistently in this tournament — finished it with a nifty, bad-angle goal that should have been stopped.

***

Phil Kessel leads the Olympics in scoring with 7 points. Simply put, his skating has set him apart. His engine has been relentless, and he’s seeing the ice well.

The instructions from U.S. coach Dan Bylsma no doubt include an emphasis on pushing the Czech team early. Legs are likely heavy for the Czech’s after a frenzied final period yesterday. The U.S. has had two days off.

“Olympic gold medal-winning gymnast Gabby Douglas took part in her first workout with coach Liang Chow, the renowned leader of Chow’s Gymnastics and Dance Institute, for the first time since last August. Douglas, who twice won gold at the London Games, had moved to California to be closer to family. She went through drills Monday with Chow.”